When you walk into Delano Floral and Gifts, the hard work that goes into the products and décor is impossible to ignore. With such a creative setting filled with numerous varying items, a person could see something completely different during every visit. To own a shop such as this one, it is clear that experience and teamwork are the keys to success.

Deann Gowin opened Delano Floral and Gifts in August of 2000 on Bridge Street. She wanted to open up her own business because she had been in the floral field for so long and already had acquired the space she needed for the shop. “It just made sense,” she says. Fifteen years later, her business has experienced major transformation.

She aimed to purchase a building solely for her business where no one else would be renting. She obtained her current space on River Street at the end of December last year. From there, Deann renovated the space and was able to finish it right before Easter of this year. She believes River Street is a better location for her business since it’s more visible to customers on a busier road. The proof is in the pudding: business has been more consistent since she changed locations.

Owning a business comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when that business is a floral shop. Since floral shops are seasonal, it is not steadily busy.

“Business is really up and down, but it’s more consistent than if this was only a floral shop,” says Deann. “I can’t imagine owning just a gift shop or just a floral shop. For me, it has to be both.”

Day-to-day work really varies at Delano Floral and Gifts. Deann doesn’t know if she will start her day with orders for funerals or weddings, both of which have number one priority over the rest of her work, or continue her work from the previous day. Holiday seasons also keep her very busy.

To get an insight into her line of work, Deann explains that she will spend all of January preparing for Valentine’s Day but will still be busy with the day-to-day orders. Deann is the Jill-of-all-trades: she does everything from designing arrangements, assisting customers, and taking phone orders. She receives the bulk of her business over the phone. Since 2000, the majority of Deann’s flowers have come from Len Busch Roses, a local grower in Plymouth. Another major part of her job is making sure all of her products get out the door and delivered to her customers on time.

Before owning her own business, Deann went to school for floral design and shop management at Hennepin Technical College. From there, she moved to Denver, Colorado to further her education at a design school. Deann worked at a floral shop right of out of college, but her career took a turn when she decided to try out the corporate world at General Mills.

“I spent five years in an office, and that was not for me,” Deann adds. Afterwards, she had children and became a stay at home mom. Once her kids grew to ages five and ten, she wanted back into the floral business. To this day, at ages twenty and twenty-five, Deann’s children help her with the shop.

Deann explains that the favorite part of her job is the people who surround her on a daily basis, including employees and customers. Most of her customers are locals who have been dedicated to her business since day one. However, she does get phone orders from all over the United States via her website. She also loves the creative side of her job and creating her own designs. She works with another designer on most everything.

Deann is most proud of her employees. Everyone she employs is part-time because the business is so seasonal. She says everyone pitches in on projects and is always happy to be there.

“We all love coming to work,” she says. “Working with flowers and gifts is very happy work, too, other than funerals. I could never do this job on my own and be successful: this is such a labor intensive job.”

As for 2016, she explains that there was so much going on in 2015 with switching locations that she can now finally breathe and enjoy time concentrating on her work.

“Now that I have accomplished a huge goal of mine by buying my own building, I’m in it for the long haul!” Deann explains.  “I know some people who are ready to retire, but I’m not even thinking about that because I love coming to work every single day.”

Deann explains the main reason she banks with Minnesota Lakes Bank is Tom Screeden.

“I follow him for my banking needs wherever he works,” she adds. “I have always had great success working with Tom. Minnesota Lakes Bank has very convenient services and locations, and because I own a local business, it’s important to me to bank locally, too.”